Westgate Tunnel approval takes Melbourne on a wrong turn

Approval of Transurban’s $5.5 billion Westgate Tunnel toll road project locks Melbourne into decades more congestion, tolls and pollution. Local residents in inner west Melbourne will not see relief from traffic and trucks under Transurban’s Westgate Tunnel toll road.

“The community is devastated that the Minister has approved the West Gate Tunnel despite the significant environmental impacts of this project” Rachel Lynskey, Friends of the Earth Sustainable Cities coordinator said today. “This project will bring 37,000 more cars onto our road network, increasing pollution and traffic in Melbourne. Transurban’s Westgate Tunnel toll road will not keep Melbourne moving.”

Call Richard Wynne now on (03) 9415 8901 and let him know he needs to support the community and say NO to Transurban's Westgate Tunnel tollroad.

Hobson’s Bay Council recently voted to oppose the Westgate Tunnel project, standing up for their constituents concerns about the local area impacts.

In over 500 submissions to the Environmental Effects Statement, the community overwhelmingly found that the Westgate Tunnel proposal had more negative impacts than benefits.

Melbourne continues investment in roads, at the expense of public transport and a world-class rail network. The community are asking instead that the government invest in freight on rail to reduce pollution from trucks travelling to the Port of Melbourne to provide a quicker and less expensive alternative to the Westgate Tunnel.

The community are also asking for investment instead to be made in the “Melbourne Metro 2” project.

“To tackle congestion and commuter traffic we urge the commencement of planning and construction of Melbourne Metro 2. This connection of western Melbourne suburbs and the new Fisherman’s Bend redevelopment with the CBD would create thousands of local jobs, and keep Melbourne moving for the future” said Ms Lynskey.

The project will be run by Transurban, who already makes $687 million from Melbourne commuters each year. The Westgate Tunnel toll road will force people across the city to pay for this road by extending the CityLink toll for a further 12 years.

Friends of the Earth acknowledge that we meet and work on the land of the Wurundjeri people and that sovereignty of the land of the Kulin Nation were never ceded. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge the pivotal role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within the Australian community.